So if I were to purchase a sourcebook or adventure on DDB, would I gain access to a digital version of the book or would I only gain access to the online content related to the book? I haven't been able to find a clear answer online or the forums, just people complaining about having to buy the sources on DDB despite owning a physical copy. Basically, when I purchase a book on DDB, what all does this include? Description on the site is vague.
On the market you can buy "the whole book", individual options or "the Compendium content".
Compendium content will allow you a digital version of the book to read.
The individual options - like getting a specific race or monster - will unlock that option in the site's tools and features such as character builder, encounter builder, search listings, crosslinking and so on.
Buying the full book unlocks everything: to use stuff in the tools and to read a digital version of the book. This is actually a superior option than a physical book.
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Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Just keep in mind, this does NOT give you a PDF of the book that can be viewed or printed. It's more like a digital book format, or the book text copied to a webpage. There is D&D Beyond app that lets you read the book on mobile devices.
This is actually a superior option than a physical book.
A physical book can always be opened. A physical book has more pixels per inch. A physical book is heavier. A physical book is life.
A physical book cannot be instantly searched. A physical book cannot auto-populate various tools for easier DMing and tracking of characters. A physical book is harder to carry around. A physical book cannot be accessed remotely. A physical book is easier to lose. A physical book is easier to damage, even just from normal regular use. A physical book is often more expensive. A physical book can have ink fade over time or from too much exposure to heat or light. A physical book is more difficult to use for those with sight impairments.
A physical book is a less efficient option in all regards thus an inferior option.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
This is actually a superior option than a physical book.
A physical book can always be opened. A physical book has more pixels per inch. A physical book is heavier. A physical book is life.
And after decades of carrying bags of physical books all over for games, I’ll take the app that weighs nothing, contains everything, and lets me find what I need in seconds no mater what book it’s in instead of all that flipping and searching and “what book was that in again?”
A physical book can be used without the internet anywhere in the world and during a power outage. Neither option is inherently superior or inferior. Both are ideal for particular uses and circumstances.
Note: digital content can be lost forever when the service that provides it ceases to exist. I’ve experienced this first hand. DnDBeyond does not allow for any product to be downloaded and is therefore inherently flawed and designed for inevitable loss at some point in time.
A physical book can be used without the internet anywhere in the world and during a power outage. Neither option is inherently superior or inferior. Both are ideal for particular uses and circumstances.
Note: digital content can be lost forever when the service that provides it ceases to exist. I’ve experienced this first hand. DnDBeyond does not allow for any product to be downloaded and is therefore inherently flawed and designed for inevitable loss at some point in time.
I enjoy and use both formats.
DDB has a feee app you can download to your devices. You can download any of the sourcebooks or adventures you have legal access to from DDB, including content only available to you via content sharing from someone else. The app can also download your character sheets to. And, it is designed specifically to function offline, it only syncs each night along with your device’s normal nightly sync.
Oh, and every motor vehicle is also essentially a gasoline powered generator, if you have access to a vehicle you can charge a device with the car just idling (so it doesn’t kill the battery). If you have two key to the car, most models can be locked with a key while running so you won’t even have to sit there for the 20 minutes it takes to change a phone.
So if I were to purchase a sourcebook or adventure on DDB, would I gain access to a digital version of the book or would I only gain access to the online content related to the book? I haven't been able to find a clear answer online or the forums, just people complaining about having to buy the sources on DDB despite owning a physical copy. Basically, when I purchase a book on DDB, what all does this include? Description on the site is vague.
On the market you can buy "the whole book", individual options or "the Compendium content".
Compendium content will allow you a digital version of the book to read.
The individual options - like getting a specific race or monster - will unlock that option in the site's tools and features such as character builder, encounter builder, search listings, crosslinking and so on.
Buying the full book unlocks everything: to use stuff in the tools and to read a digital version of the book. This is actually a superior option than a physical book.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Very helpful, thank you!
Just keep in mind, this does NOT give you a PDF of the book that can be viewed or printed. It's more like a digital book format, or the book text copied to a webpage. There is D&D Beyond app that lets you read the book on mobile devices.
A physical book can always be opened. A physical book has more pixels per inch. A physical book is heavier. A physical book is life.
A physical book cannot be instantly searched. A physical book cannot auto-populate various tools for easier DMing and tracking of characters. A physical book is harder to carry around. A physical book cannot be accessed remotely. A physical book is easier to lose. A physical book is easier to damage, even just from normal regular use. A physical book is often more expensive. A physical book can have ink fade over time or from too much exposure to heat or light. A physical book is more difficult to use for those with sight impairments.
A physical book is a less efficient option in all regards thus an inferior option.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
And after decades of carrying bags of physical books all over for games, I’ll take the app that weighs nothing, contains everything, and lets me find what I need in seconds no mater what book it’s in instead of all that flipping and searching and “what book was that in again?”
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Well it was life. Now it's dead trees and toxic ink...
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
A physical book can be used without the internet anywhere in the world and during a power outage. Neither option is inherently superior or inferior. Both are ideal for particular uses and circumstances.
Note: digital content can be lost forever when the service that provides it ceases to exist. I’ve experienced this first hand. DnDBeyond does not allow for any product to be downloaded and is therefore inherently flawed and designed for inevitable loss at some point in time.
I enjoy and use both formats.
DDB has a feee app you can download to your devices. You can download any of the sourcebooks or adventures you have legal access to from DDB, including content only available to you via content sharing from someone else. The app can also download your character sheets to. And, it is designed specifically to function offline, it only syncs each night along with your device’s normal nightly sync.
Oh, and every motor vehicle is also essentially a gasoline powered generator, if you have access to a vehicle you can charge a device with the car just idling (so it doesn’t kill the battery). If you have two key to the car, most models can be locked with a key while running so you won’t even have to sit there for the 20 minutes it takes to change a phone.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting